Are you looking for a fast way to get product reviews so you can boost your sales and maybe even increase your prices? Think about it—would you buy a product off of Amazon that has zero reviews? Most people wouldn’t.
In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies to quickly gather product reviews and enhance your online presence. Whether you’re using Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or remarketing techniques, these tips will help you build trust with potential customers and drive more sales.
Introduction to Product Reviews
Product reviews are a topic that’s close to many eCommerce owners’ hearts, and for good reason! When I first started out in 2008, getting product reviews for an eCommerce website was incredibly challenging. I still remember when I began selling on eBay; their built-in review system was a game-changer that helped me significantly increase sales.
If you own an eCommerce site, you’re likely aware that only a small fraction of visitors who land on your website end up making a purchase. The majority will simply browse through your products before leaving without buying anything. This reality is why conversion rates for eCommerce sites tend to be rather low, with the average hovering around 2.5%.
Fortunately, there are several strategies you can implement to improve your store’s performance. One of the most powerful tools you can use to encourage purchases on your site is product reviews. But what exactly are product reviews, and how do they help in converting visitors into customers?
What Are Product Reviews?
Product reviews are ratings left by customers on your product pages after they’ve made purchases on your eCommerce site. They offer a quick and effective way to encourage more people to buy from you. When potential customers see that others have endorsed a product, it builds trust and can significantly influence their buying decisions.
An Example of Product Reviews
If you’re unfamiliar with product reviews, take a look at the example above. The screenshot shows reviews for an Intel Core i9-9900K Processor being sold by B&H Photo Video. As shown, 33 people have reviewed this processor. Of these, 30 gave it a 5-star rating, one gave it 4 stars, and two gave it 2 stars.
What Does This Mean for a Customer?
The overall rating for the Intel Core i9-9900K processor at B&H Photo Video is 5 stars. For a customer, this suggests that the product is likely worth buying. Product reviews, therefore, serve as a persuasive tool that can help convince potential buyers to choose your product over others.
An example of Product Reviews on a website
Do Product Reviews Impact Pricing?
Many people may not realize that product reviews significantly impact a product’s pricing. For example, if you’re selling a camera that has received numerous five-star reviews, it will likely remain in demand due to the high level of customer endorsement. This strong demand provides you with the flexibility to experiment with pricing without the fear of losing sales.
On the other hand, a product with a majority of three-star reviews is more likely to be avoided by customers. In such cases, you may need to take drastic measures, such as lowering the price, to encourage sales. Therefore, gathering more high-quality reviews is an excellent strategy to enhance your bottom line. The following points summarize the relationship between reviews and pricing:
How to Get Product Reviews on Your Website
With Shopify, you can get product reviews through a plugin
Are you using platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, or other eCommerce solutions? If so, you’re in luck—these companies often have built-in review systems. In many cases, you can enable product reviews on your website simply by installing a plugin.
It’s important to ensure that product reviews come from customers who have actually purchased the product. Most major eCommerce platforms automate the process of displaying product ratings on your site, so there’s no need to worry about setting it up manually.
How to Get Product Ratings on Google Shopping Ads
An example of Product Ratings on Google
As mentioned earlier, getting product reviews to show on your website is usually as easy as activating the feature on your chosen eCommerce platform. Sometimes, it’s as simple as installing a plugin. Once this is done, customers will be prompted to leave a review after making a purchase from your store. It’s straightforward, right?
While having product reviews on your website is beneficial, there’s more you can do to leverage the power of these reviews for boosting sales.
Product Reviews on Your Website Are Great, But…
If your goal is simply to have product reviews on your website, the above steps are all you need. However, if you’re looking to fully harness the power of product reviews, it’s time to think beyond this basic functionality. Product reviews can do much more than just improve your site’s credibility—they can significantly drive sales.
Displaying Product Reviews on Google
What exactly does this mean for you? Many people seek product reviews with the aim of getting these ratings to appear on Google. For instance, if you have products listed on Google Shopping, one effective way to boost sales is by ensuring that ratings are displayed alongside your products.
So, how do you get product ratings to show on Google? And do you need to pay anything to make it happen?
Use Third-Party Review Aggregators
When it comes to getting product ratings on Google, the feedback that’s left on your WooCommerce, Shopify, or BigCommerce store isn’t automatically uploaded to Google for use in Google Product Ratings. Instead, you need to sign up with one of the companies licensed by Google to syndicate data for product ratings. Currently, Google has 23 companies licensed for this purpose.
This number is subject to change, so keep in mind that the figure might not always be the same. You might notice that many of these companies are from Spain and other non-English-speaking countries. However, this shouldn’t be a major concern unless your business also operates in those regions.
It’s important to remember that you will need to pay for the services of third-party review aggregators. Although there are costs involved, they are relatively minor compared to the significant benefits of increased sales you can gain by using these services.
Which Companies Should You Use?
So, which company is best when it comes to third-party review aggregators that will help you get product reviews in Google Shopping Ads? For this article, we’ll focus on three English-speaking companies that excel in this area.
Shopper Approved
Shopper Approved is one of the top recommendations for obtaining product and store ratings. This service will syndicate your reviews from your website into Google, allowing you to display star ratings in your product reviews. As shown in the screenshot above, Shopper Approved is licensed by Google for product reviews.
Shopper Approved is Licensed by Google for Product Ratings
How Much Does Shopper Approved Cost?
Shopper Approved is known for being one of the more affordable options for product reviews. We’ve been referring people to Shopper Approved for years and have referred over 300 clients. Unfortunately, Shopper Approved has recently joined the trend of not displaying pricing information on their website, so you now need to contact them for a quote.
The Planet Marketing Discount
The good news is that you can sign up for Shopper Approved at a discount using our link! By using our link, you not only receive a discount but also get 30 days free of charge!
Verified Reviews
Verified Reviews is another Google-approved third-party review aggregator you can use to get product reviews. Like Shopper Approved, Verified Reviews is licensed for product reviews, making it a great option for those seeking a comprehensive review solution. Feel free to check them out using our link if you’re interested.
eKomi
eKomi is another excellent company we recommend to our readers who are looking to get product reviews. Similar to Shopper Approved and Verified Reviews, eKomi provides both product and store ratings.
What sets eKomi apart is their approach to handling reviews. Unlike most other third-party review aggregators, eKomi offers a fully managed feedback service. Once you sign up, they handle everything for you, including requesting reviews and responding to both positive and negative feedback. eKomi tends to be a bit more expensive than other options, starting at around $300 per month, which reflects the comprehensive service they offer.
Google Customer Reviews
Google Customer Reviews, is a popular option for those looking to gather product reviews, particularly for Google Shopping Ads. While many turn to this service to avoid the costs associated with third-party review aggregators, there’s a common misconception that Google Customer Reviews is entirely free. Spoiler alert: it’s not!
How Google Customer Reviews Works
To start using Google Customer Reviews, you need to integrate specific software into your website. After making a purchase, your customers will receive an opt-in form from Google, inviting them to leave feedback about your business and products. If they choose to participate, their reviews can boost your credibility and improve your visibility in Google Shopping Ads.
The Catch: Not as Free as It Seems
While Google Customer Reviews doesn’t charge a subscription fee, it’s not completely without cost. The real expense comes from the initial setup. Unless you’re a seasoned web developer, you’ll likely need to hire a professional to handle the integration on your site. The good news is that this is usually a one-time investment. However, keep in mind that you won’t have full control over which reviews are displayed.
Is It Worth the Investment?
If you’re on a tight budget, Google Customer Reviews might seem like a good option. But before you skimp on costs, consider whether a third-party review aggregator might offer more flexibility and control. These services, though not free, could provide a more comprehensive solution for managing your online reputation.
Manually Uploading Your Product Review Feeds to Google
Manually uploading your product reviews to Google is a free option to get your reviews displayed in search results. However, like using Google Customer Reviews, this method comes with several challenges. Here’s a breakdown:
If you’re still interested and willing to give it a try, you can follow this link to upload your Product Ratings through Merchant Center. However, for most, using third-party review aggregators, as mentioned earlier, is a more efficient and practical solution.
An Example of Product Ratings on Google
If you’re advertising or considering advertising on Google Ads, it’s essential to explore the option of adding Product Reviews to your Google Ads campaigns. These reviews are syndicated from your website into Google Product Listing Ads (PLAs), helping to increase your sales.
The screenshot below illustrates how Product Reviews appear in Google Shopping. In this example, a search for “gaming laptops” shows that some products have Product Ratings while others do not. Consumers are much more likely to gravitate toward products with ratings, making them a valuable addition to your advertising strategy.
Store Ratings
While this article focuses on Product Reviews and how to obtain them for your eCommerce site, it’s important to note that they aren’t the only type of review extension available. Store Ratings are another valuable extension. Unlike Product Ratings, which are specific to individual products like the Dell G7 15 Gaming laptop, Store Ratings evaluate a seller’s overall performance.
The screenshot below provides an example of Store Ratings. These ratings, also known as Seller Reviews, appear in your CPC text ads, offering potential customers insight into your business as a whole.
According to Google, Store Ratings have the potential to boost your click-through rate (CTR) by up to 17%. This significant impact means they are a crucial component for your business and should not be overlooked. Google maintains a list of approved companies for Seller Reviews, and some companies, like Shopper Approved, are featured on both the Store Ratings and Product Ratings lists. If you’re seeking a solution that covers both types of reviews, Shopper Approved is highly recommended.
How to Read Product Reviews
To view reviews for a specific product, simply click on the rating displayed on Google. This action will take you directly to a page where you can read all the reviews for the product you’re interested in. The screenshot below demonstrates the reviews for the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop.
As shown, the Acer Nitro 5 has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. By placing your cursor over the golden star graph, you can see detailed breakdowns: 222 five-star ratings, 90 four-star ratings, 19 one-star ratings, and 4 two-star ratings.
In this example, the reviews are sourced from Best Buy. However, for other products, you may notice that the reviews come from various retailers where the product is sold.
Why This Information Is Important
From a customer’s perspective, product ratings are crucial as they provide insight into the quality and reliability of a product. For instance, a rating of 4.4 stars generally indicates a high-quality product, while anything below 3.5 stars should raise some concern.
Interestingly, many customers are skeptical of products with perfect 5-star ratings, often believing that nothing can be that flawless. This highlights the importance of not panicking over a few negative reviews. Instead, view them as opportunities to improve and address any issues, which can ultimately enhance your product’s overall appeal and customer satisfaction.
A Roundup
That’s it! That’s how to effectively gather Product Reviews for your eCommerce site. If you’re using one of the major eCommerce platforms, you’ll either have a built-in system for collecting reviews or access to a plug-in. Ensure that an automated system is in place so that customers receive a prompt to leave a review right after they make a purchase.
For those looking to elevate their review strategy, consider partnering with a company like Shopper Approved. They offer the added benefit of syndicating your product reviews to Google, where they will appear as ratings in your Google Shopping Ads. This can significantly enhance your product’s visibility and appeal, helping to attract more customers and boost sales.
